Chefs in Merseyside are urged to do battle in a Cottage Pie Challenge being organised in aid of the Hoylake Cottage Day Care Appeal.
The gourmet gauntlet has been thrown down to any restaurant, pub, hotel or café serving the traditional dish.
Participating chefs can create their own version of the original combination of minced beef and mashed potatoes, or produce a vegetarian option.
Customers will be asked to give marks out of ten for taste, appearance and use of local ingredients – and the restaurant will donate £1 for every dish sold, to the Hoylake Cottage Day Care Appeal to build a new centre for older people.
One of the judges, chef Paul Askew of the London Carriage Works, said: “We will be looking for something a little bit different, perhaps with the cut of meat, herbs, extra vegetables or topping on the mashed potatoes. And we’re hoping chefs will take advantage of the wealth of locally grown beef and vegetables available in Wirral.
“This is nostalgic, comfort food which usually evokes fond memories of grandma or mum’s home cooking. But it can also be an iconic signature dish – as it has been at The Ivy in London for more than 20 years.”
The Cottage Pie Challenge takes place 8th to 21st November and a panel of judges will sample the top few dishes, shortlisted after voting by customers. Mystery diners will also carry out random sampling of all entries.
The shortlisted chefs will then showcase their cottage pies at the prestigious Christmas Food Fayre in Port Sunlight on 4th and 5th December.
The judges will be Paul Askew, Chef Patron at The London Carriage Works; Wirral farmer Lorna Tyson MBE; Nigel Crane, managing director of sponsor Essential Cuisine; and Maggie Sparks, chair of Port Sunlight Museum and Garden Village.
The top prize is dinner, bed and breakfast for two at Nigel Howarth’s Northcote Manor, through the Academy of Culinary Arts; and an optional day in the kitchen. Plus, £100 worth of products from Essential Cuisine.
Any chef who would like to take up the Cottage Pie Challenge should call Emma Keenan on 0151 632 7302 or email: fundraising@hoylakecottage.co.uk
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